Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark's Italian Down Neck or Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey neighbourhood, she is considered the most prolific and popular female rock 'n' roll hit-maker of the early rock era -- the late 1950s to the early 1960s. After an appearance on Startime, Francis was advised to change her name from Franconero to something more easily pronounceable, as well as to quit the accordion and focus on singing.
Francis' first single "Freddy" (1955) met with little success. Her next nine singles were also failures, and she began considering a career in medicine; however, "Who's Sorry Now" (a cover version of a 1923 song) launched her into super-stardom worldwide. Francis recorded the song at what was to have been her final recording session for MGM, as the label was about to drop her since her previous singles had generated little activity. She has said (paraphrased from The Billboard Book of Number One Singles by Fred Bronson) that she recorded it at the suggestion of her father, who convinced her it stood a chance of becoming a hit because it was a song adults already knew and that teenagers would dance to if it were released with a more contemporary arrangement.
The gamble paid off. In April 1958, "Who's Sorry Now" reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart (number four in the USA); in 2000, it was named one of the Songs of the Century. On January 1, 1958, she debuted it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand television show; by mid-year over a million copies were sold. This was followed by many other hits over the next decade, as Connie Francis became one of the most popular vocalists in the world.
Francis specialized in downbeat ballads delivered in her trademark "sobbing" style -- such as "My Happiness," "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry," "Among My Souvenirs," "Together," "Breakin' In a Brand New Broken Heart," and the Italian song "Mama," many of which were remakes of old standards. However, she also had success with a handful of more upbeat, rock-and-roll-oriented compositions, such as "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick On Your Collar," and "Vacation." Among her other notable performances were "In the Summer of His Years" (a tribute to slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy) and Bert Kaempfert's "Strangers In The Night" (although the latter song is more identified with Frank Sinatra). Both "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" went to No.1 on the Billboard music charts in 1960. In 1962 she had another No.1 hit with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You."
Francis recorded in nine languages during her career, including English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, and even Japanese, and remade many of her hits in foreign languages, including "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and her signature song, "Where the Boys Are." In fact, her biggest hit album in the U.S. was 1960's Italian Favorites, and she followed it with several more albums of Italian songs over the years, as well as collections of Spanish-language and Jewish songs, among others.
"Where The Boys Are," one of many Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield compositions Francis recorded during her career (others included "Stupid Cupid" and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool"), gained wide exposure through its inclusion in the 1960 motion picture with the same title. Francis had a role in the film and sang the title song. During the first half of the 1960s she starred in three additional films -- Follow the Boys (1963) (the title song of which became a No. 17 Billboard single for Francis), Looking for Love (1964) and When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965).
In 1960 Francis became the youngest headliner to sing in Las Vegas, where she played 28 days a year for nine years. In 1961 she was successful in starring in her own television special on ABC television sponsored by Brylcreem titled Kicking Sound Around, singing and acting along-side Tab Hunter, Eddie Foy Jr. and Art Carney. She appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on July 1, 1962 with French singing star Johnny Hallyday in a show that was taped at the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris, France. On July 3, 1963 she played a Command performance before Queen Elizabeth II at the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. By 1967, she had 35 U.S. Top 40 hits, and three number ones.
Connie Francis has always been a great fan of country music and recorded several albums of country standards during her pop career. In 1969 she had a modest country hit with "The Wedding Cake" and made the country charts again in 1982 with "There's Still a Few Good Love Songs Left in Me." Several country singers found chart success remaking Francis' pop hits for the country market, including Marie Osmond ("Who's Sorry Now" in 1975), Susan Raye ("My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" in 1972), Margo Smith ("Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" in 1978), and Debby Boone.
During the height of the Vietnam War in 1967, Connie Francis performed for U.S. troops.
Francis ended her recording career in 1969. She returned in 1973 with "The Answer," a song written just for her, and soon began performing again. Her son Joey was born in 1974. Tragedies followed soon after. In 1974 she was sexually assaulted in a hotel following a performance in Westbury, New York. Nasal surgery to correct a sensitivity to air conditioning deprived her of her ability to sing professionally for four years. Her brother was murdered in 1981.
Francis' autobiography, Who's Sorry Now? was published in 1984. Francis was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental disease which includes severe depressions and manic highs. She uses the drug Lithium to balance out the emotional highs and lows caused by the disease. Connie Francis resumed her career in 1989 after discovering the drug and has continued singing and recording since then. Francis still holds a world-wide appeal shown through continued music sales and sold-out appearances.
Her latest CD The American Tour contains performances from recent shows. In late December 2004, Francis headlined in Las Vegas for the first time since 1989.
In March of 2007, Francis performed to a sold-out crowd -- composed of gay urbanites and conservative suburbanites -- in San Francisco. The "little diva" belted out versions of her "woebegone ballads . . . in full force," according to the San Franciso Chronicle's music critic.
Connie's fan club: www.conniefrancis.com
Blame It on My Youth
Connie Francis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you don't care how many tears I cry
And though you only lead me on and hurt me
I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye
'Cause everybody's somebody's fool
Everybody's somebody's plaything
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
Though I'm a fool at least I know the score
Yet darlin' I'd be twice as blue without you
It hurts but I'd come runnin' back for more
'Cause everybody's somebody's fool
Everybody's somebody's plaything
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
Someday you'll find someone you really care for
And if her love should prove to be untrue
You'll know how much this heart of mine is breakin'
You'll cry for her the way I cry for you
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
Everybody's somebody's plaything
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
The song "Blame It on My Youth" by Connie Francis focuses on the theme of heartbreak and how everyone experiences it. The opening lyrics, "The tears I cried for you could fill an ocean, but you don't care how many tears I cry" indicate that the singer has been hurt deeply by a lover who does not seem to care. As the song progresses, the singer addresses the idea that "everybody's somebody's fool" and that there are no exceptions to the rule. The lyrics suggest that heartbreak is a universal experience and something that everyone goes through at some point in their lives.
The singer of the song knows that she should forget about the person who hurt her, but she cannot bring herself to do so. The lyrics "Though I'm a fool at least I know the score, yet darlin' I'd be twice as blue without you, it hurts but I'd come runnin' back for more" convey the idea that even though the singer realizes that this person is not good for her, she is willing to put herself through the pain for the sake of love.
The final verse of the song suggests that the person who hurt her will one day experience the same heartbreak. "Someday you'll find someone you really care for, and if her love should prove to be untrue, you'll know how much this heart of mine is breakin', you'll cry for her the way I cry for you" implies that the cycle of heartbreak will continue, and that no one is immune to it.
Overall, "Blame It on My Youth" is a poignant meditation on the universality of heartbreak and our ability to love even when it hurts.
Line by Line Meaning
The tears I cried for you could fill an ocean
I have shed so many tears for you that it could fill an entire ocean.
But you don't care how many tears I cry
You don't care about how much I am hurting despite the amount of tears I have shed.
And though you only lead me on and hurt me
Even though you manipulate and hurt me deliberately.
I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye
I cannot let go of you even though I know I should leave you behind.
'Cause everybody's somebody's fool
The reason I can't let you go is because everyone falls for someone who doesn't care about them.
Everybody's somebody's plaything
Every person can be used or manipulated by someone else.
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
There are no exceptions to the rule that everyone will experience heartache in relationships.
I told myself it's best that I forget you
I came to the conclusion that it is best to move on from you.
Though I'm a fool at least I know the score
Even though I am foolish to continue to love you, I know the reality of our situation.
Yet darlin' I'd be twice as blue without you
Despite my better judgment, I know I cannot live without you because being without you is more painful.
It hurts but I'd come runnin' back for more
The pain of being with you hurts me so much, but I know I will return to you because I love you.
'Cause everybody's somebody's fool
Once again, the idea that everyone falls for someone who doesn't care about them is repeated.
Everybody's somebody's plaything
The truth that everyone can be used or manipulated by someone else is reiterated again.
And there are no exceptions to the ru-u-ule
The fact that everyone will experience heartbreak is repeated as well.
Someday you'll find someone you really care for
There will be another person in your life whom you will truly care for.
And if her love should prove to be untrue
If this person does not reciprocate your love, the pain you will feel will be similar to the pain I feel.
You'll know how much this heart of mine is breakin'
At that moment, you will understand the pain that I am feeling.
You'll cry for her the way I cry for you
You will cry for this person the same way I cry for you.
Yes, everybody's somebody's fool
The song concludes with the message that everyone has experienced the feeling of being a fool in love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWARD HEYMAN, OSCAR LEVANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LoveTheOConnor
Wonderful version of this one, Jim, and great pictures of beautiful Ms. Francis. Love it! Thanks so much for sharing! Have a great evening, my friend :))
connie francis
Hi dear🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel am checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖.
Jymster46
So glad you liked it, Heather. I just love her songs. Thank you so much for watching and commenting, my friend! Wishing you a wonderful day :))
Jim
lourival imbuseiro
Vê-se como ela está feliz e sorrindo em paz consigo mesma depois de tantos infortúnios e agressões que a vida e pessoas desajustadas a magoaram mas ela com sua fé e inteligência nata saiu incólume e vencedora.La Bravíssima FRANCONERA...
Gladys Betancourt
😘
tryton111
I am such a big CF fan. I hope you get away with this one, Jim. I know I've told you this before, but it was three of her uploads that got my last channel its three strikes within one week.
Jymster46
We are all on borrowed time anyway, Victor. I lost a channel somewhat the same way. I can't resist posting her beautiful songs. Thanks for listening, my friend!
Jim
Yee mui Chau
法國女♀星finally and your family ?